The Perfect Follow-up Can Land the Perfect Job

Top 10 Secrets to Master your Post-interview skills

The interview may be over, but your chance to make an impression is still wide open.

In today’s super competitive job market, effective follow-up after the interview is vital for success. Indeed, knowing what to do after an interview is as important if not more than nailing the interview itself. Here are the top ten recommendations to maximize your post-interview potential and impress your prospective employer.

1: Find out the next step

Once the interview is over, get a clear idea of what will happen next. In most cases the interviewing team will indicate when they will contact you. If this is not conveyed, be sure to ask them to get an idea of when they will let you know, and make sure you only call the employer if that date has passed.

Also find out if there will be a second interview, will you be invited back to meet other people and by what date do they hope to fill the position? Questions like these convey your eagerness for the job.

2: Send out a thank you email

It’s almost expected and standard procedure to follow up each interview with a “thank you” email.

But a savvy candidate can also use this opportunity to communicate something beyond just the customary ‘thank you’. An effective follow-up email can convey three things: Your appreciation for their time, your interest in the position and a few pointers on what makes you the ideal candidate.

3: Be prompt in your response

Irrespective of the industry you are in, promptness is a universally appreciated trait. Send the thank you email no less than 24 hours after the interview to leave an impression that you’re responsible. Being prompt demonstrates your professionalism and enthusiasm while a delayed follow-up or a lack of any email can be misconstrued as disinterest or lethargy.

4: Offer a solution to one of the organization’s needs

Here’s a tip to write a powerful thank you/after-interview letter. Simply mirror and repeat back a summary of key points that were discussed in the interview. Make sure, you memorize or even take short notes during the actual interview itself. If you pick up points related to their immediate challenges or their expansion plans, you can strengthen the follow-up email with your recommended solutions for their challenges.

5: Offer a complimentary proposal or 30-60-90 day plan

Act more like a consultant than an applicant by providing supporting documentation that demonstrates your expertise. Consider creating a proposal on how you would address one of the company’s expansion plans or anything you learnt during the interview. Or you could simply email them a structured 30-60-90 day plan on what you would in the first three months if selected. Doing so will demonstrate that you have the skills, the knowledge and also the enthusiasm to make a significant contribution.

6: Think of more ways to value-add

In addition to reaching out to thank them for your interview, it’s also a smart idea to reinforce your insight by referencing a news article, blog post or industry event related to the company or the industry you are aiming to be a part of.

7: Leverage testimonials to tilt the scales in your favour

This is your chance to pepper the follow-up with testimonials. Any outside references and endorsements of your work will always have a greater impact in impressing a potential employer.

You could even have the reference reach out to recruiters via LinkedIn to drop a note to praise you.

8: Tap into the power of outside resources

Continue networking as before. If you meet anyone or build connections with anyone who might know the interviewers or could influence the hiring decision, you could request him or her to put a good word in for you.

9: Start practising for the next round of interviews

You never know when you’ll be asked to come in for the next round, so you can stay prepared to hit the ground running when the call comes in. Use this time to research about information that you can’t find on the website of the company. This could range from a recent acquisition to an award or any other milestone in the company’s history. You can then use this information as a springboard to enhance your chances in the second round.

10: Be prepared for rejections – maybe one closed door will open another

Finally, stay calm and don’t show your disappointment even if you are rejected for this position. Keep in mind that the future is still ripe with possibilities. Regularly stay in touch with them. You never know when a different position may open up or when the employer may refer you to someone else. This is where LinkedIn can come in as a handy tool to send out interesting articles with helpful suggestions from your end.

In closing, what you do after the interview is critical and that’s why the follow up is your chance to yet again make a great impression. It takes professionalism and diligence to establish your reputation as a reliable candidate, and maintaining this positive, professional candour will pay rich dividends in the long run.

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